Corn-cutter



(-No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

, W. R. CLARK.

GORN GUTTEIL' 'No 513,087. I PatentedJamr '23, 1894.

av'meddad 1 W% Q4 W 4w v UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

WVILLIAM RILEY CLARK, OF MINNEAPOLIS, KANSAS.

CORN-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 513,08'7,dated January 23, 1894.

Application filed August 4, 1891. Serial No.40l,628. (No model.) I

To all whom it may (Z on/corn.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM RILEY CLARK, of Minneapolis, county of Ottawa, and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Cutters, of which the following is a specification, reference be- 1ng had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to produce a machine adapted to out standing corn in rows, two rows at a time, and it provides means for guarding the knives when the machine is not in use,.in order to prevent liability to accidents.

In theaccompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective, Fig. 2, a plan, and Fig. 3 alongitudinal vertical sectional view of my corn cutter.

Referring to the figures on the drawings, 1 indicates the frame of the cutter that consists preferably of a pair of sled runners. It may be provided with a pair of low wheels 2 carried near the rear of the runners on the axle 3.

4 indicates a bar passing through and extending between the runners, and adapted to pivotally carry the tilting frame 5 that is provided on its forward end wit-h a seat 6, and on its rearward end with a counterweight 7.

8 indicates a triangular platform that is provided with a transverse groove 9 within which are fitted sliding bars 10 that are held in place by strips 11 that span the groove and are se-.

of corn to be out. One or more riders take cured upon opposite sides thereof.

12 indicates knives, each of which is provided with a brace 13. The end of each of 'the braces is provided with a projection 14,

which may be made, for instance, by bending the metal of the brace. Each brace is also pierced near its end with a hole 15, and the adjacent end of the blade of the knife is also pierced in like manner, as indicated at 16, to adapt the knives to be fastened by screws, or other suitable means to one of the sliding bars, respectively. The brace should be so constructed, and the knife so fastened to the bars that the edge of the knife is parallel with the outer edge of the platform, so that by the movement of the sliding bar the edge of the knife may be thrown out beyond the edge of the platform for cutting, or may be retracted, so that the edge of the platform acts as a guard and completely protects the entire edge of the knife. Instead of making the edge of the the knives, and to hold them rigidly in posi-' tion when the piece is secured upon the front end of the platform, as illustrated in the drawings.

To a pivot-pin 19, in the forward end of the tilting frame 5 are fastened the ends of arms or links 21, whose opposite ends are pivotally secured to the projections 14: on the ends of the braces of the knives. These arms in use, therefore, constitute a toggle joint, which,

'when the tilting frame is depressed as by the weight of arider upon the seat, throws the blades of the knives beyond the guarding edges of the platform and keeps them in that position for cutting. As soon as the seat is relieved of the weight of the rider, the counterweight 7 immediately causes the tilting frame to tilt backward, and the toggle-levers retract the knives back of their guards.

22 indicates a tongue for drawing the cutter. The operation of the device is as follows Horses are hitched to the tongue 22, and the cutter is placed in position between two rows their places upon the seat which tilts forward and uncovers the edges of the knives. The cutter is then drawn along between the rows. The knives strike the stalks at an oblique angle and readily sever them from the ground. The weight of the cutter and the power of the horses are sufficient to insure the perfect operation of the machine. \Vhen the work is done, or a turn or a change of location is desired to be made, the riders arise from the seat, and it immediately allows the tilting frame to tilt backward, and so retracts the knives into the guarded position; consequently there is no danger of the horses or men being cut by the sharp blades, as there would be without the provision for automatically retracting them.

What I claim is- 1. In a corn cutter, the combination with its frame and a triangular platform provided with a transverse groove, of sliding bars in the groove, knives parallel with the sides of the platform provided'with braces, each knife and its brace being secured at their rear ends,

respectively, to the opposite ends of one of the sliding bars, a counter-weighted tilting seat and links terminally pivoted thereto and at their opposite ends to projections upon the braces, substantially as specified.

2. In a corn cutter, the combination with its frame and a triangular platform provided with a transverse groove, of sliding bars in the groove, knives parallel with the sides of the platform provided with rearwardly extending braces, each knife and its brace being rigidly connected at their rear ends to the opposite sraosv ends of one of the sliding bars, a guide bar recessed at its opposite ends adapted to receive or guide the knives at their forward ends, a counter-weighted tilting seat, links terminally pivoted thereto and to the sliding bars, and span strips above the recess adapted to prevent the displacement of the movable parts under the sudden action of the counterweight, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony of all which I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WILLIAM RILEY CLARK.

Witnesses:

E. E. BUCK, O. O. CHIPMAN. 

